manifestations of his love in Spiritual blessings God many times does it that they may not withdraw from him He therefore hides away his Face thereby to put them upon seeking after him We are apt to be very cold and slight and remiss in the things of God he to awaken us many times takes this course Again God sometimes forsakes us in spiritual comforts that he may not forsake us in great er blessiongs Comfort is not at present so necessary as other blessings are Mang may go mourning all the days of their lives but if they go on in the way to Heaven though they go mourning thither one Minutes enjoyment of the glory of Heaven will recompence for all God doth it to enlarge their graces and to fit them for greater comforts afterwards The sum of all under this head as to the distinguishing love of God here spoken of and the reallity of this love is that though God doth not in the same height and degree manifest himself in his love to his People yet nothing can separate from the love of God God may not manifest his love in that eminency as you have heard yet there is nothing that can make a total or final Separation from the love of God Now for the Confirmation of this truth I shall give you some Arguments 1. Arg. First from the freeness of Gods love free grace is the only Spring and Fountain of all Gods love to his poor Creatures If there be any thing of love in us to God this cannot be the Cause or Motive of Gods love in regard it is the effect and fruit of antecedent love This is clear if there be any thing better in us then in others it is because God hath been better to us then he hath been to others and therefore the Apostle thus expostulates 1 Cor. 4.7 Who maketh thee to differ c. What hast thou that thou didst not receive Now because there is nothing of loveliness in us but it is purely the freeness of Gods grace that is the Motive of his love to us this speaks it an everlasting love and the force of the reason lies in this because if the Foundation or Motive of Gods love to us had been any thing that he had discerned in us then as it was something that was pleasing in us that was the Motive of his love to us so that which is displeasing in us would put an end to his love If our merit did procure it then our demerit would have forfeited it and this alas we do every moment But you find all along in Scripture that it is the good will and pleasure of God to which all his love to us is ascribed Luke 12.32 Fear not little Flok for it is your Fathers good pleasure to you give the Kingdom It is Gods good pleasure it s not you have deserv'd it but he hath shewn you his goodness in being thus bountiful unto you in bestowing it upon you So you have it very frequently repeated Eph. 1.7 In whom we have Redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace It is grace and riches of grace that God shews any thing of love to us So you have it several times mentioned in that Chapter This is one Argument to prove the love of God to his People to be everlasting because it hath no other Foundation nor Fountain but his own goodness his goodness is an everlasting goodness and therefore his love must be an everlasting love Was the Foundation of Gods love any thing in us alas we are mutable Creatures You know in our Primitlve estate we lost all yea where we were in an estate of greater advantage then we can ever arrive to here on earth when we had nothing of weakness or ignorance or corruption but were fully furnished against all kind of assaults yet then barely the mutability of our will lost all but now the love of God doth not depend on the will of man but the free grace and goodness of God himself 2. Arg. The Faithfulness of Gods promises God hath promised this mark this is the sum of all Gods promises herein consists the excellency of the Covenant of grace it carries everlastingness and in disoluableness in it I will turn you to one or two places Jer. 13.3 The Lord hath appeared to me of old saying I have loved thee with everlafling love Therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee It s called there an everlasting love and you find it promised likewise Jer. 32.38 And they shall be my People and I will be their God ver 40. And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to dothem good Do but observe it is an everlasting Covenant and the promise of of this Covenant is this I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me I will neither cease to love them nor shall they cease to love me God takes care of both parts He hath promised for himself that he will not and he will so take care of them that they shall not cease to love 3. Arg. The immutability of Gods decrees This shews the love of God to be so fixt so everlasting that nothing can separate from it or dissolve That God is the great Governour of all the world and that all things are managed by his infinite Wisdom is acknowledged by all and that he governs all things according to his decrees This is the ldea or Copy of all that comes to pass this appears from the Eternity of God God doth nothing now but what he decreed in Eternity Eternity is one point with God there is no first nor second nor last things with God That these decrees with God are immutable appears from the perfection of God To take up new Councils argues imperfection God loves none but those whom he elected and elected none but those whom he decreed to love Now this Election is an intention in God for the glorifying the riches of his grace in some persons Eph. 1.5 6 7. the Apostle speaks with that limitation Having predestinated us unto the adoption of Children according to the good pleasure of his Will To the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved In whom we have Redemption So that there is a particular defignation of these persons to partake of this salvation 2 Tim. 2.19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal the Lord knoweth those that are his Again Election includes in it thus much a preparation and sanctification of all means whereby those persons that are designed to salvation shall infallibly be brought to it God doth not only design â—to glory as the end but also to grace as the means And for the working of grace in them and for the preserving of his People in a State of
in the New Testament 1 Rom. 30. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is Translated despiteful and denotes thus much When his power could not reach the Persons of Professours nor the worldly concerns of Professours yet he did his utmost to blast their names and blemish their reputation he was a reviler he forbore nothing that was injurious to them but what was beyond his power to inflict These were his sins 2. What mercy he did obtain notwithstanding such sins and that in three instances 1. Sparing mercy God had born with him Notwithstanding he was often guilty of those sins which might have brought wrath and destruction more quickly upon him he wondered at Gods patience towards him this is mentioned in this verse That he might shew forth all long suffering When he once came to understand what he had been and what he had done he stands amazed at the holy God that had so much patience with him God had it is true struck him to the ground he admired that God had not struck him as low as hell We are apt to think beholding the gross abominations that are more open and visible in our days what infinite patience there is in God that he doth not immediately break out upon such as are guilty but S. Paul like a poor humble sinner busies himself at home and spends his wondering chiefly on Gods patience towards himself who had been a blasphemer and persecutour and injurious and yet alive and on this side hell yet a pattern of the patience and long-suffering of God 2. He obtained pardoning and renewing mercy in respect of that double change that was wrought upon him there was an outward change in respect of his State and Condition and there was an inward change in respect of the frame and disposition of his heart These were the high and choice mercies which he obtained Mercy in respect of his state and condition Of a childe of wrath he became a childe of mercy and favour from a state of death he was brought into a state of life from a state of condemnation he was brought into a state of absolution and pardon as he himself speaks 2 Ephes 5. Even when we were deed in sins he hath quickned us together with Christ We were dead guilty of death under a state of condemnation but now 5. Rom. 1. being justified by faith we have peace with God Now justification is not only an act of mercy and consists not barely in the remission of sin but it is an act of justice also in regard of the account upon which sin is forgiven this is a Doctrine whereof many in these times speak very lightly therefore to give a right notion of Justification consider it doth not only consist in the bare remission of sin but this remission of sin is upon a valueable consideration Divine Justice having received a valueable satisfaction by the blood of Christ For nothing could expiate our sins but his blood Now S. Paul was sensible of the great mercy of God to him and by this mercy he means pardoning mercy Again he did partake of purging mercy in regard of the inward frame and disposition of his heart This he frequently mentions Thirdly That is not all but he obtained Commissionating grace grace to be employed to be made use of in the highest degree of service to God and his Church From the lowest degree of infamy he was raised to the highest place of trust 12. vers of this Chapter And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who hath enabled me for that be counted me faithful putting me into the Ministry Though the Ministry be never so much despised he accounted it a high honour to be put into it he that was a blasphemer a persecutour injurious that Christ should put this honour upon him here is mercy indeed for such an offender to be spared to be pardoned to be sanctified to be made use of as such a glorious chosen instrument of God among the Gentiles this was mercy indeed 3. What encouragement is there in this and such like famous instances which God hath left upon record as monuments of his mercy for broken hearted sinners who are ready to sink under the weight and burden of their own sins First These examples and standing monuments of Gods mercy to others are incouragements to humble broken hearted sinners because the same Fountain of mercy still stands open to us that was open to them and by these standing monuments God hath enabled his people to answer those puzzling objections that do stick most with them The bowels and compassion of a gracious God are open now which were open to Saint Paul This is the original of all kind of mercies and unless this be open every door of mercy is 〈◊〉 59. Isa 1. The Lords hand is not shortned that it cannot save He hath the same bowels now which he had he is the fame yesterday and to day and for ever his mercy is from one generation to another The mercy of the Lord endures for ever It is no less then twenty times mentioned in the 136. Psalm We have the same fountain opened to us that is the Bowelâ— of God Secondly There is the fame meritorioussâ—â—â— in the bloud of Christ now as was He is the Laâ—â— slain from the foundation of the world There is an everlasting efficacy in his blood The Papists speak of their Treasury of Indulgences that sinners may live upon if they will give a handsome rate for them this is a gross delusion and multitudes have been deceived with it But this is true and real in Christ there is a treasury of all kinde of blessings laid up by his purchase by his once offering up himself be hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Thirdly There is the same efficaciousness in the Spirit of Grace We have the same operations of the Spâ—â—â— of grace to convince and to convert to sanctifie and renew us to prevent us from siâ—â—ing and to regenerate us to holiness to assist us and to enable us to every good way and work Fourthly If you regard the instrumental cause there is the same vertue in ordinances now which ever was because the strength and vertue of ordinances depend upon Gods presence and concurrence with them Now God hath promised his presence and concurrence to the end of the world 28. Matth. last Lo I am with you to the end of the world Not only with your Persons while your live but with your successours by whom the same ordinances are dispenced when you are dead and gone Again if you regard the final cause salvation and happiness God hath the same love for the salvation of lost and undone creatures now which he had of Old therefore says S. Paul 15. Rom. 8 9. Now I say that Jesus Christ was a Minister of the circumcision for the truth of God to confirm the promises made unto your Fathers and that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his mercy There
nothing but anger against us as when God opens a window into our breasts and thereby gives us a full view and prospect of our own wretchedness when he reveals to us our guilt andat the same time conceals his own love oh what a dreadful condition is the soul then in where ever it goes the curse of the Law and the cry of its own sins pursue it My sin is ever before me says David Psal 51.3 and how does Job bemoan himself Chap. 13.23 24 25. How many are mine iniquities and sins c. Wherefore hidest thou thy face from me and holdest me for thine enemy c. and vers 26. thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth So Job 6.2 3 4. Oh that my grief were throughly weighed c. The arrows of the Almighty are within me the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit the terrours of God do set themselves in aray against me His afflictions in outward respects were neither few nor small his estate was gone his relations gone his health gone but all these were small matters in comparison of the withdrawings of God Had God smiled upon his soul he could better have endured his frownings upon all his outward comforts could he but have discerned God to be his friend he could more chearfully have born all his other tryals but that which occasion'd all his pathetical moans was Gods hiding his face 2. How far is it that God does hide his face at any time from his people 1. Negatively God will never totally nor finally hide his face from them 't is his promise Heb. 13.5 He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee and if he hath said it it is not for us to question it The Disciples of Pythagoras had their Master in so great Reverence that an ipse dixit he hath said it was enough to them they thought it presumption in them to question what they had received from him now though this was too much arrogance in men either to give or take such an autoritativeness yet when God speaks he who is truth it self he who can do all things but cannot lie 't is not for us to doubt or question 2. Positively Though God may hide his face from his people yet will he not turn it from them he never ceases to love them though he does not always manifest it he retains towards them the love of a father even when he discovers the anger of a Judge Isa 54.7 8 10. for a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee saith the Lord thy redeemer The mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my peace be removed So Isa 57.16 17 18. Many times 't is in respect of outward comforts only God hides his face to let them know the excellency of spiritual comforts sometimes not only in respect of spiritual comforts but graces also that his people may know their dependance upon him but still God regards their safety 3. The reasons why God deals thus with his people 't is not from any delight he takes in their sorrows nor from any pleasure he hath in their troubles But 1. 'T is to chastise them for their fins every sin is a forsaking God and consequently a provoking God to forsake us did not we by our disobediences withdraw our selves from him God would not withdraw himself from us That the Sun is overclouded 't is from those vapours which the earth it self sends up but there are some sins especially branded in Scripture as the causes of this calamity 1. Spiritual Idolatry when our hearts wander from him after strange loves the great thing God requires is our hearts if we deny them to him no wonder if he hide his face from us When we set up creatures in Gods throne and give that to them which is only due to him this is high disloyalty and provokes his jealousie Deut. 31.17 18. Deut. 32.17 20 21. God will admit no rivals have no partners in our hearts he that hateth not all in comparison of him is not accounted aright to love him for this sin God sometimes gives the soul a kind of divorce 2. Obstinacy and stubborness against all Counsels and instructions because I have purged thee and thou wouldst not be purged c. Ezek. 24.13 because the people of Israel would none of Gods Counsels he leaves them to their own Psal 81.11 12. 3. Lukewarmness in Gods service this was the sin for which God threatned the Church of Ephesus Revel 2.4 5. the Church of Laodicea Revel 3.15 16. 't is not enough that we serve God but we must serve him with all our might and with all our strength 4. A willing connivance at any known sin either in our selves or in others so far as concerns us thus in the Church of Pergamus Revel 2.14 in the Church of Thyatira Revel 2.20 5. A disesteem of his love and the pledges thereof when Israel once loathed their Mannah they did not long enjoy it when they slighted Sabbaths and spiritual opportunities God sends a famine of this spiritual food Amos 8.5 compared with verses 11 12. 6. Unfruitfulness under the means of grace for his sin God threatned his Ancient people to remove his Gospel from them they brought not forth the fruits of it Matth. 21.43 2. To carry on the designs and purposes of his own grace towards them God hides his face for a time that he may not hide it for ever he does not now spare them that he may for ever spare them But more particularly 1. God hides his face sometimes that he may recover his people to a due esteem of his favour The spouse flagged in her affections towards Christ his withdrawings raise up her desires 2. That they may be more wary and cautious in shuning whatever might renew these breaches again and consequently enjoy his favour more fully and more constantly The burnt child dreads the fire 4. The uncomfortableness of this condition 1. Proportionably to the withdrawings of God there will be a damp uon all our comforts If the sun be set all the stars in the firmament cannot make day if God hide his face it must needs be night with the poor soul Thus with David Psal 30.7 Thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled 2. Accordingly there will be a decay in all our graces those plants which while the sun is near thrive and flourish in the winter season seem to die and wither the soul of man is but a barren foil in respect of all spiritual good while God who is the spiritual husbandman is tilling and dressing and taking pains with it 't is then fruitful but when God withdraws all decays John 15.2 Jerem. 23.3 3. There will
he had power to stand and ability to resist all oppositions and temptations but still he was left to a mutable will But our estate of Recovery is another kind of Estate as to our security in it because it depends upon Jesus Christ as I shall shew when I come to speak of that part of the Text The love of God is a fixt love because it is in and through Jesus Christ Apl. For the Application of this point How abundantly well are they provided for that have the love of God for their portion though they have nothing else though they have not a a Friend on Earth yet if they have the God of Heaven to be their Friend if they have God to own and stand by thm they have enough This was Saint Pauls comfort Though no man stood by me yet the Lord stood by me 2 Tim. 4.16.17 Though thou hast no estate nor Friend nor Creature comfort yet in having the love of God thou hast all nay ten thosand times more then all You may judge what a refreshing it was to the Prophet Daniel Dan. 9.23 At the beginning of thy Supplications the Commandment came forth and I am come to shew thee for thou art greatly beloved when Daniel was ready to faint under his Vision in the 10. Chap. 7.8 in the 11. verse O Daniel greatly beloved what greater word could be spoken then this A man greatly beloved of the great God Psal 144.15 Happy is the People that is in such a case yea happy is that People whose God is the Lord. Let our condition be what it will in all other respects yet if we have but this single priviledge there is enough in this alone to make us happy Though we be under reproaches as St. Pauls was yet he be being clear in his Conscience towards God that he had a Conscience void of offence both towards God and towards man he trampled on those Reproaches It s a small thing for me to be judged by mans Judgment We pass through good report and ill report If our condition be want what can he want who hath an interest in him in whom is infinite fulness If our condition be Sufferings what suffering can be harsh to them that have the presence and love of God to sweeten them Here is our strength and comfort indeed but if God with hold his love or suspend the manifestation of it where are we Death it self which is the King of Terrors is no terrour to us if we have but the love of God there is enough in that to turn the dark Valley of the shadow of death into a pleasant entry into everlasting glory Psal 23.4 Though I walk through the Valley of the the shadow of death I will fear no evil For thou art with me thy Red and thy Staff they comfort me Why because thou art with me with me why God is with all his Creatures he is every where Yea but with me in thy favour and love and care and tenderness to uphold support and comfort me when none else can comfort me 2. Appl. The next use is by way of examination You see this priviledge is highly great it is no small matter any of us to know in what posture we stand in reference to it It is our great and cheif concern for all depends upon this theefore let me perswade you from hence to examine your interest in the love of God And although the love of God as it is in him is secret and invisible to us yet it discovers its self in its Fruits and Effects so that it may become discoverable There are many hidden Causes but they may be discovered by their effects as we know the nature of a Tree by the Fruit and the nature of a Fountain by the Stream Now if we would know the love of God to us the truest way to discern it is by our love to God Examine your selves by this 1 John 4.19 We love him because he first loved us If thou hast any spark of love to God to his truth to his ways to his ordinances to his People all these are as so many Fruits of his love to thee He loved thee first and that love kindled in thy heart a love to him Love to God is a spark that comes from Heaven But you will say our love to God may be as hidden and difficult a thing for us to discern in regard especially of the deceitfulness of our hearts as the love of God to us is I shall therefore turn you to one place of Scripture Joh. 14.21 He that hath my Comandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and manifest my self to him He is loved of God that keeps his Commandments that is that makes it his design and endeavour so to do Now consider what love do you find in your hearts towards God his truth and his ways c. and from hence you may reasonably conclude his love to you 2. A second Rule by which we may be helped in discerning whether we have any right or title to the love of God is this What have you received those Mercies from God that are the infallible Pledges of his peculiar love there are no kind of outward Mercies almost but God may and does sometimes bestow those things in anger God answered the People of Israel in many of their rash requests in anger he gave them quailes in anger c. Again these outward Mercies at best if they do not come in anger are but Fruits of Gods common bounty But now what Mercies do you partaâ—â—e of which are infallible Pledges of his special love there are such Mercies there are indeed some Mercies that may be called in a 〈…〉 gâ—â—â—shing Mercies in respect of their 〈◊〉 and conducenâ—â—â—o bring us to partake â—of 〈◊〉 Mercies indeed as the Gospel for instance 〈◊〉 Yet God vouch fafes this to them 〈…〉 by it as the Jews had the sword Psâ—lâ— 147â—19 20. He shewed his word unto 〈◊〉 his Statutes and his Judgements unto Israel He hath not deâ—â—lt so with any Nation and as for his Judgements they have not known themâ— Rom. 9.2 To them were committed the Oracles of God Herein God hath been good to his People above others the body of his professing People Rom. 9.2 Theirs is the Covenant and the giving of the Law and the service of God and the Promises Yet this Mercy though it be a more limited Mercy then ordinary and common Mercies are yet is no such distinguishing Mercy but that we may be Partakers of it and yet not have an interest of Gods peculiar love This sadly appears for alas how many are there that live under the Gospel and yet are so far from reaping that salvation which the Gospel brings that it only heightens their misery and condemnation How many woes did our Saviour denounce against those Cities that enjoyed the Gospel in so great a plenty and yet
about him but all his ways are Righteousness and Judgement Psal 97.2 Manifest your love by a patient submission to all the dispensations of God and by a good construction of all his Providences 4. Manifest your love to God by a chearful undergoing all afflictions in the cause of God It is for your Lord for him that hath done and suffered ten thousand times more for you then possibly you can do for him Manifest your love by a cheerful submission when your Case is clear in doubtful things the Case will be otherwise The Apostles rejoyced that they suffered reproach and dishonour in the Cause of Christ Acts 5.41 5. Manifest your love to God in labouring to bring others to partake of the love of God You that see some ground in your selves to hope that you have an interest in the love of God be actively diligent to help others what you can to get an interest in this love for this is a high testimony of our love to God Peter lovest thou me Feed my Sheep Joh. 21.16 17. you know how our Saviour repeated it three times to shew that he would take this very well at his hands In the last place one word more to them who have good hopes that these great things do belong unto them Labour to keep up a fresh and lively sense of Gods love in your hearts Though the love of God be invariable thus far whom he loves he loves for ever yet the sense of this love is very mutable Be very careful therefore to keep your Evidences clear and unspotted do not blot them by sin David lost the sense of Gods love for a long time by those great lapses of his and though God had pardoned him and did yet love him yet it was a long time before he did recover the sense of it Be diligent in the use of those Ordinances by which the sense of Gods love is most cleared and kept fresh in your hearts Alas those that do the most partake of the love of God may have their ebbings and flowings as to the sense thereof in Joh. 14.21 He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and be that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and will manifest my self to him If we would have further manifestations of the love of God we must go on in ways of obedience to God Be therefore often Communing with your own hearts and looking into your own Souls and consider your ways c. how matters stand between God and you On the other hand I shall speak one word to them who upon examination find ground to fear that they are rather under Gods displeasure then intitled to his peculiar love that are rather the objects of his wrath then the subjects of his special love Oh think what a woful estate thou art in Oh think what comforts thou by thy negligence and disobedience hast deprived thy self of Think what dangers thou liest open to every moment there is nothing between thee and everlasting misery but a fraile life and the thread of this life how soon God may cut it asunder none knows Think what uncomfortable and an unsafe estate thou art in Do as David in another Case did He would not give sleep to his Eyes nor slumber to his Eye lids till he had provided a place for the Ark of God So do you give all diligence that you may attain reconciliation to God and an interest in this great priviledge that you have heard of this day of the love of God SERMON XII Rom. 8. ult Nor height nor depth c. I now proceed to a third Observation 3. Doct. There is this transendent excellency in the love of God which speaks it an inestimable support to his People in all their distresses that those who have once been made Partakers of this love can by nothing be deprived or dispossessed of it HEre is a large Enumeration of particulars death cannot do it though it can separate from all things here in this World life cannot do it the troubles of life nor the comforts of life I shall not insist on these things further There is this vanity in the best of all our Creature enjoyments that there will be nay there cannot but be a parting with them The rich man that now prides himself in the multitude of his riches in the greatness of his Treasures in the largness of his incomes cannot rationally but think if he does not he does but delude himself that he cannot carry his riches with him into the other World to bribe the Flames of Gods wrath to corrupt the Executioner of Gods Vengeance It was Jobs acknowledgement naked came I out of my mothers Womb and naked shall I return He came into the World without and he must leave all these things behind him when he goes out again Job 1.21 In the 12 of Luke you read of that Gospel Fool when he began to applaud himself in his condition saying Soul thou hast Goods laid up for many years take thine case eat drink and be merry Thou Fool says God to him this night shall thy Soul be required of thee then whose shall those things be that thou hast provided they are thine now but whose shall they be before to morrow there must be a separation from all these things The greatest of men that are that now over top all about them they must ere long be levelled and made equal to their Neighbours There is no difference between the dust of a Nobleman and the meanest person yea Crowns and Scepters which are such dazeling things in the Eyes of the world these ere long must be resigned into the hands of Successours there must be a separation from all these things Nay all these relations that have the greatest indearment in them that can be as the Relations of Husband and Wife and Parent and Child and Pastor and People and Friend and Friend there is a Friend that is nearer then a Brother saith Solomon there must be separation from these there must be there cannot but be so Your Fathers where are they the Prophets do they live for ever Zach. 1.5 observe this general Rule there is no Fixation no stability in any thing but in this only viz. the love of God For the clearing of this observation I shall speak to 2. things 1. Something by way of Explication 2. Something by way of Confirmation 1. By the way of Explication rightly to state the Case concerning the love of God and to set truth its due bounds This I shall do by propounding several distinctions 1. We must distinguish between the common love of God which manifests it self onely in common Mercies in preserving us and providing for us these outward things and the spocial love of God which consists in distinguishing discriminating Mercies Now it is plainly clear that the Apostle cannot speak here of the common love of God because this love may be
grace God undertakes for both Now the fulness and unchangableness of these decrees argue the love of God to be unchangeable As God hath intended some to glory as the end he intended by grace as the means to bring them to that end 2 Thes 2.13.14 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you Brethren Beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit belief of the Truth whereunto he called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ That is the glory purchased by our Lord Jesus Christ And if this love of God flows from his electing decree it must needs be everlasting because God cannot be frustrated in his decre 4. Arg. The fulness of that care that God takes of his People though they may be tempted and assaulted and meeâ— with sore buffettings yet he will not let them be tempted above what they are able 1 Cor. 1.13 and when they are the forest beset with difficulties and under the greatest fears and sad thoughts yet even then God hath the same care of them that he had of St. Paul 2 Cor. 12.9 my grace is sufficient for thee That one expression that we have 1 Pet. 1.5 is enongh to clear this truth Who are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation you read in the verse before of Gods reserving of Heaven for them and in this verse of God's preserving of them for it Though they may meet with many Rubs and Interruptions in the way to Heaven yet they are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation they shall not fall short of glory God doth still love them and they shall find the Fruit of this love to be everlasting happiness His grace is omnipotent grace and therefore it is that our Saviour comforts his Disciples with this consideration Joh. 10.29 My Father is greater then all and none can pluck you out of his hands Now if God takes such care of his People to preserve them then there is no fear of their falling short of his glory 5. Arg. Lastly The many assurances that God hath given his People of his everlasting love to them He hath given them his word he tells them whom he loves he loves to the end Joh. 13.1 he hath told them I well never leave you nor forsake you Heb. 13.5 Nay he hath given them not only his word but his promise which is more than a solemn word Jer 32.40 And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from then to do them good Nay he hath not only given them his promise but his promise confirmed with an Oath Heb. 6.17.18 Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the Heirs of promise the immutability of his Counsel and confirmed it by an Oath That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie we might have a strong Consolation c. Nay he hath confirmed his Oath with a Seal he hath given us his hand and Seal and he hath given his People the first Fruits of the Spirit whereby they are Sealed up to the day of Redemption So that you see the love of God hath this transcendent excellency in it that it is everlasting There is nothing that enemies can do to put a period to it and there are all things in God that might give us an assurance of theeverlastingness thereof Vse Now to make some Application of this point in a few words First This may inform us of the folly of them who fix upon any thing on this side God There is no everlastingness no fixation no stability in any thing but in God only I have seen an end of all perfection but thy Commandments are exceeding broad Alas all other things are but as Clouds that are passing away they are not why should we set our hearts upon things that are not they are not because they continue not In fixing our hearts and hopes and in building our expectations on any thing befides God and placing our comforts on any thing besides the love of God as we highly dishonour God so we highly wrong our own Souls Hereby we highly dishonour God because we prefer the Cistern before the Fountain yea we rather chuse to build on the Sand then upon the Rock of Ages we think our selves better in the hands of Creatures then in the hands of the Almighty and infinitely gracious God And we wrong our selves because we bring our selves under an absolute necessity of being frustrated and disappointed though we may be as industrious as the laborious Bee to wander from this to the other part of the world to go to this and that Flower yet we are sure to meet with nothing but disappointment but God is a sure refuge his love is stable and secure to our Souls Nay we do whtat we can to put God far from us when we fly from him and make the world our comfort We bid as it were God to depart from us We tell him we can do well enough without him we can do well enough with other things besides him we say as they did depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy love Job 21.14 2. It may inform us how such Discourses as this is may cause our hearts to burn within us as it is said of his Disciples who were going to Emaus Christ appeared to them and they knew him not but afterwards when he had left them then they recollected their thoughts and said How did our hearts burn within us whilst he spake unto us that God should love such as we are and that with an everlasting love and so as that nothing should be able to take off his love from us not our sins not our provocations this is a wonder Though these may be as so many Clouds to darken his love yet this is a priviledge peculiar to all true and sincere Believers Now since God doth love us so wonderfully how should this cause our hearts to burn within us To burn with the Fire of Repentance to purge away the dross of our sins that ever we should be so foolish unwise and disingenious to requite so good a God who hath so loved us And with the Fire of love to love God and to do what we can in acknowledging such love in him to us And with the Fire of Zeal for him that hath shewed so much of kindness to and care of and over us 2. Vse The next use is by way of Exhortation and in that I shall speak to two sorts of persons First To them who find themselves as yet Strangers to this love of God Let me speak to them Oh do but think how sad a condition you are at present labour to affect throughly your hearts with the sadness of this condition though you may have never so much of other Mercies yet if you have not
this Mercy the single want of this is enough to imbitter the largest confluence of all your Creature enjoyments It is this alone that can bear up our Spirits while we live and comfort our hearts when we dye and it will go with us after death and beyond the Grave To want this is to want that which no orher enjoyent can make up indeed if we have the love of God there is egough of the enjoyment of that to comensate the want of all things else Oh therefore labour first to be sensible of your condition and to get your hearts affected with it and then stand no longer capitulating with God but accept of Mercy and that thankfully upon the terms that God offers Mercy Is God willing to bestow his love upon you and is it such a love that nothing can deprive you of it when you once have it and is it a mercy that may be purchased on such easie terms And are you unwilling to accept it Oh! It is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation Do not stand off longer make no terms raise no objections but come up to the terms which God requires If it be to the cutting off a right hand or plucking out a right Eye And bless God that yo may be accepted on such an account Go to God and plead his Sons blood and plead his Mercy and though there is nothing in you to procure his love yet make use of these things that may help you Do not give over the use of means but wait upon God in his Ordinances that they may bring you over to partake of this love of God 2. Exhor To them whom God hath blessed with this love I shall speak one word to them If God hath bestowed on you this great favour to own you to love you to love you in and through Jesus Christ you have cause to be thankful For God to love you Truly it is a distinguishing mercy such a mercy as God doth not vouchfafe to all It is a free mercy a mercy that God never bestows upon any account but only upon the account of his free grace Now be thankful therefore if you partake of the love of God it is a mercy that but few fo his Creatures do partake of and it is a mercy that any do partake of it That God should set his love upon fallen man and pass by fallen Angels That God should set his love upon Creatures it is much but that he he should set his love upon apostate Cratures upon Creatures that are so much below him and upon sinful Creatures that so much provokt him what cause of thankfulness have we that do partake of this love but be careful that you are upon a sure Foundation As to this examine what is your love to God his truth his ways and ordinances Again this mercy is the sum of all mercies If God loves us as one speaks then himself is our God then all in God is ours that is for our support and comfort and refreshment In the next place be careful to preserve this love be careful of doing any thing that may cause God to withdraw any measure of his love from you and make use of all kinds of means and helps whereby you may have this love cleared excited and quickened and upon every withdrawing of the love of God be careful to recover it Resolve as David did Psal 132.3 4 5. Surely I will not come into the Tabernacle of my house nor go up into my Bed I will not give sleep to my Eyes nor slumber to my Eye lids until I find out a place for the Lord a habitation for the Mighty God of Jacob. Here was a great deal of earnestness So do you resolve never to be at rest nor quiet until you have recovered what yo have lost We find that God does upon several accounts withdraw the manifestation of his love from his People Sometimes to chastise them for their sins this was Davids Case and if this be yours then make Davids practice your patern Be humble for your sins return to God beg his Spirit to secure you against future Relapses Sometimes God doth it to try them As this was the Case of job and if this be your Case Do as Job did when God seems to cast you off follow God and do not you cast off him God it may be is trying your desires to see whether you are willing to part with him or no when he seems most in your apprehensions to be neglectful of you do you then labour to stir up Strongest after desires him Somtimes he withddraws his love when his people do not value it As it was with the Spouse Christ withdrew when the Spouse was in Bed and he knockt and she was willing to arise If this be your Case do you as the Spouse did be willing to rise and seek him till you find him Lastly Be careful to improve this love of God but how shall we do that If you are sure this priviledge belongs to you then live up to this priviledge live in contempt of things of this world And make use of all those things that may quicken you in ways of obedience God would not only have his People to serve him but to serve him with chearfulness and because his People of Israel would not serve him with chearfulness in the enjoyment of all things therefore he gave them up to serve their Enemies in nakedness and hunger and in the want of all things Therefore be careful to make thankful returns of obedience to God through the whole course of you Lives and labour to bring others to partake of those dainties and refreshments that you have experienced the sweetness But let me leave this with you Beware you be not over hasty in thinking you are intituled to this priviledge when indeed you are not this is a great delusion among Professors there are many Professors are yet rotten at the bottom therefore look to your hearts And if you have found upon examination that you have good grounds to hope that you belong to God and have an interest in his love then live up to this Mercy SERMON XIII Rom. 8. ult Doct. 4. The principal Groun and assurance which we have of the stabiltiy and certainty of the love of God to his People is because it is in and through Christ THe love of God therefore most evividently appears to be sure and everlasting because it is built on so sure and everlasting Foundation This Doctrine consists of two Parts 1. What ever God hath of love to any of his People it is only upon the account of Christ 2. That this love of God through Christ to his People doth therefore appear to be certain and unchangeable permanent and lasting because it is in and through Christ What ever God hath of love to any of his People it is only upon the account of Christ Look upon common Mercies that God preserves you that God
supplies you and provides for you do you think there is any thing of worth or desert in you that you enjoy so much of health and so many outward comforts it is not upon your own account that God is thus bountiful and yet we find it was so much the folly of the People of Israel that they were ready to attribute all the Kindness of God to something or other in themslves and tehrefore it is that God himself is so often their Remembrancer and Monitour to put them in mind and to correct those mistakes about his choosing them to be his peculiar People whom he owned above all the People in the World Besides they were apt to think that there was something in them that might incline God to this kindness no says God in Deut. 7,7 8. The Lord did not set his love upon you nor chuse you because ye were more in number then any People but because the Lord loved you c. You may delude your selves with these fancies but because the Lord loved you he chose you and he loved you because he loved you His love had no motive but what was from himself no motive but only his own loving kindness and goodness Ezek 36.22.23 Thereofe say unto the House of Israel thus saith the Lord God when he promised great Mercies to them I do not this for your sakes oh House of Israel but for my Holy Names sake c. The kindnessess that God speaks of there are highly great and yet not any of them were upon the account of any thing in them And this it is really with us now as in some few instances 1. Gods electing love which is the first born of all Mercies and the first link of that golden Chain which you have in this very Chapt. 28.29 whom he did foreknow he also did pâ—edestinat c. This electing love it hath its first rise from the absolute will of God This is not the absolute purchase of Christs merits yet this is through Christ in some sense Eph. 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him that is in Christ as in the verse before we are chosen in him it is not said for him so that all the kindness that God hath for us even this which seems to be an Act of the highest Freedom and the most eminent expression of Gods rich grace That he should chuse and and pick out some and select them from the common multitude of mankind and to set them apart as special objects of his favour though this was from the absolute will of God was in and through Christ if you ask how I answer we are chosen in him not as the Foundation of our election but because we are chosen in him for his Members as He is our head That this first love of God had some reference to Christ though not as the onely procuring Cause yet as the consummating Cause to accomplish is abundantly evident through the Scripture we are elected in him that is that he should perfect this blessed and gracious decree of God upon us Eph. 3.11 According to the Eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. What purpose was this it was a purpose to save some to set his Heart and love upon some his electing love was thus far in Christ 2. The love of Conversion is in and through Christ Eph. 2.10 We are his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works c. And though God is the sufficient Cause of all the grace we partake of yet Christ is the meritorious Cause it is the gift of God and yet withal it is the purpose of Christ it is God alone that bestows grace and it is for the sake of Christ alone that he doth bestow it compare those two places James 1.17 you read that God is the Father of Lights But it comes all from God in and through Christ John 10.10 I am come that they might have Life and that they might have it more abundantly God is willing to give it but it is in and through Christ that he gives it 3. Again to instance in the love of God in Justification it is God alone forgives sin and our Saviour herein appears to be equal with the Father because he hath committed all power into his hand power to forgive sins Now as God onely can forgive sin so it is onely for the sake of his Son that he doth forgive it Eph. 4.32 Even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you If God hath forgiven you it is not for your own sakes but for the sake of Christ do you forgive one another pass by injuries forgive offences make this your pattern which is the highest pattern that ever was or can be Col. 1.14 In whom we have Redemption through his Blood even the forgiveness of sins We have Redemption and Forgiveness but all come streaming down in the Blood of Christ In a word to sum up all the several Acts of Gods distinguishing love they are all in and through Christ and therefore you read that Doxology Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all Spiritual blessings in Christ He hath blessed us with the choicest blessings but all these are in and through Christ I shall now give you some Arguments to prove it and I shall only mention three First Because God neither can nor does love us as we are in our selves Matt. 3.17 And loe a Voyce from Heaven saying this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased It is not spoken of Gods love to him in a common respect but of something peculiar to him and there is this double limitation as Interpreters note this is the Son of mine whom I eminently love and this is that Son of mine for whose sake I love the Sons of men all do acknowledge that this love is a confined and limited love that is spoken of here but yet they explain it thus My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased That is in whom I am eminently pleased and for whose sake I am pleased with them whose cause he undertakes As that Oyl that was powered on Aarons head descended to the Skirts of his Garment so that love that God hath to Jesus Christ descends to all his inferiour Members John 17.23 26. I in them and they in me that they may be made perfect in one c. These are high Expressions and such as exceed the capacity of all mortal men that God should love us with the same love wherewith he loved his Son The most sober sense by Interpreters given of these words is this That God in and through Christ loves his People for his sake with the same kind of love though not with the some degree of love Eph. 1.6 We are accepted in the Beloved if God accepts of us or smiles upon us it is in and through Christ Eph. 1.5 6. Having predestinated us to the adoption of Children